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Hello Harrisburg! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Broad Street Market tops preservation list, Plants + Pints returns, and an Oscars watch party with red carpet vibes + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Landmarks in the spotlight: The Historic Harrisburg Association recently released its 2026 Preservation Priority List, putting Broad Street Market first, with Bishop McDevitt and William Penn high schools also flagged for preservation — get all the details.

Eco-conscious community gathering: Plants + Pints will return to Harrisburg’s Strawberry Square on April 12 with vendors and fundraising for Downtown Daily Bread. General admission is $20, with children under 12 free — get all the details.

Building the next nursing workforce: UPMC Harrisburg recently opened its Shadyside School of Nursing to Susquehanna Township High School students, offering basic procedure lessons on medical mannequins and helping address Pennsylvania’s 20,000 registered nurse shortage — see how the program works.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate St. Paddy’s with Kilmaine Saints
• Watch the Oscars in style
• Hear father-son violin and cello arrangements
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Shareable night upgrade: Craving an easy, not-boring dinner? Cork & Fork nails small plates and wine. Think crisp pizzas, seasonal bites, and cocktails you’ll actually finish. Bring a friend, share two or three dishes, sip something good, and let the conversation carry the night.

Gear up, Carlisle: Earth Artisan & Outfitter blends nature-inspired art with curated goods, gear, and guides, plus trail-ready know-how, for home, garden, and trail. Trade doom-scrolling for dirt paths with inspiration that nudges you outdoors.

Go giant-screen this week: Whitaker Center – Select Medical Digital Cinema turns documentaries and the occasional feature into a full-on escape with a four-story screen and wraparound sound. Perfect when you want low effort, high payoff. A midweek flick may leave you feeling a little smarter than your popcorn.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🏡 PA Home and Garden Show @ Pa State Farm Show Complex | Thursday (3/5) at 12:00 PM – Take a break and head to the PA Home & Garden Show at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Hideaway Structures is showing the Versa 160 Attrium, a backyard upgrade that makes your neighbor’s shed look tired. Stroll, compare, and quietly plan your escape.

💪 Get Fit Fest @ Bethesda Mission Community Center | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Consider this your friendly nudge to move more than your jaw at brunch. A free, family-friendly fitness fest with Zumba, Xtreme Hit Dance, wellness screenings, a metabolic syndrome session, and a CPR demo, plus giveaways, because incentives help. Bring sneakers, curiosity, and your dad shuffle.

🌸 Philadelphia Flower Show @ Unique Chauffeured Services | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Skip parking purgatory and let Unique Chauffeured Services whisk you to the Philadelphia Flower Show, America’s biggest, longest-running bloom fest. Expect jaw-dropping floral art, garden trends you’ll steal, immersive displays, ticket handled, a luxury ride, and a box lunch that isn’t a wilted afterthought.

❄ Harrisburg Ice & Fire Festival @ Soul Lotta Empanadas | Saturday (3/7) at 11:00 AM – Ice & Fire is taking over Downtown and beyond with a free festival of 60+ sculptures, an ice slide, fire dancers, live carvings, and a cocktail, coffee, and cocoa crawl, because apparently we like our art frozen and our fingers toasty. Glows after dark, too.

🤥 Pinocchio @ Gamut Theatre Group | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Popcorn Hat Players’ Pinocchio packs interactive songs, sharp silliness, and a one-hour, all-ages adventure that actually makes adults laugh. If you’ve been eyeing a low-stress Saturday matinee, this is it, and your nose won’t grow when you brag about it.

🎶 Reading & Rhythm @ Jewish Federation of Greater | Sunday (3/8) at 10:00 AM – Part story time, part mini-music class, this kiddo jam with instructor Lindsey Kreider turns wiggles into rhythm and reading. Perfect for families with ages 1 to 5, infants welcome, at the JCC Grass Campus. Bring the stroller brigade, members $5 a family, non-members $10.

☕ Molly Pitcher Tea Party @ John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Trade brunch chaos for a proper afternoon tea at the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, complete with Cameron family silver, savory bites, and sweets. Molly Pitcher, our hometown Revolutionary heroine, pops in to spill some tea. Members $40, non-members $50.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Harrisburg report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 53°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 29%

Patchy fog between 7am and 8am, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. North wind around 2 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers. Cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind around 1 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 58°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 82%

Rain showers before 4pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Southeast wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This nearly 3,600-square-foot two-story offers 4 beds, 3.5 baths, elegant trim throughout, and a 2-car garage with mudroom entry. A soaring two-story foyer leads to a great room, open to a kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room. The first-floor study and owner’s suite add convenience. Upstairs, a loft with balcony, two baths, and oversized closets complete the plan.

Take a peek inside →